A LETTER FROM PASTOR CROW Dear Friends... TH E PAT RIARCH JAC OB WAS BUI LDI NG T HE F U T U R E , AN D DI DN ’ T E V E N KNO W I T ! In John 4, we read a story about Jesus meeting with an ostracized woman at a well. In that conversation, He revealed himself as the Messiah. The woman not only believed in Jesus but “many… from that town believed in him” (4:39). The part that leaps out to me from that story is where the conversation happened. Hundreds of years before, Jacob wandered the countryside, digging wells for him and his family. Most of those wells didn’t remain, but this one—Jacob’s well— remained. His investment provided a location where
Jesus could show his power to an entire region, and give them an opportunity to express their faith in Him. Without the well, Jesus would not have met the woman. Every week, I walk into a church building that was built by people who sacrificed their time, money and effort. At this ‘well’, we have seen hundreds of lives redeemed. People have been saved, restored, forgiven, and put on a productive path because others have chosen to Build the Future. That leads us to our present situation. We have outgrown our facilities. The need is real and the time is now. Would you join with me as we build a new church home for Harvest Ridge that will serve as a place where future generations can meet the Messiah, Jesus Christ? YOUR COM MITMENT AND S ACR I F I CE I S BUI LDI N G T HE F UT UR E !
Christ’s Servant Pastor Crow
HARVEST RIDGE STATISTICS G IVING
Total Giving Growth Missions Giving Growth
$1,000,000 $800,000 $600,000 $400,000 $200,000
1993
1995
1996
1998
2000
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2012
Since 1993 Harvest Ridge has given close to $1.2 million dollars to World Missions.
AT T E NDANC E A N D M EM B ER SHI P
Total Average Membership Total Average Attendance
500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 1993
1995
1996
1998
2000
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2012
2011
2012
From 1993 to 2012 our attendance has grown from 35 to 460 people. Conversions
DISCIPLE SHI P
Baptisms
200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 1993
1995
1996
1998
2000
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
During our 20 years we have seen over 1,381 people come to Christ.
YOUR PART During the weeks ahead, God invites us to ask Him to reveal to each of us the role we can play in Building The Future.
Pray
Make the journey in prayer before you make a decision what to give. Ask God what He would have you give to help make this vision a reality. Remember, these gifts are above and beyond your regular giving (tithes) to Harvest Ridge.
Leave Room for Faith
Believe God to provide what He impresses you to give, even if the amount is greater than the resources you can readily identify. Expect a miracle!
Give Sacrificially
A sacrificial gift is one that effects my lifestyle—a gift that actually costs me something. It’s a gift like the widow offered when she gave “all she had to live on.” Though others gave more money, they gave out of abundance. Because her gift was sacrificial, Jesus said that she actually gave “more than all the others” (Luke 21:13). King David expressed the heart of sacrificial giving when he said that he would not give to God “offerings that cost me nothing’ (2 Samuel 24:24).
God expects equal sac
FAMILY PRAYER GUIDE Purpose To pray, study, and communicate with one another to discover God’s Will concerning our family commitment in giving to Build the Future. Step 1 Have the leader of your home pray, inviting God’s presence and leadership into the gathering and asking God to give a spirit of love, unity, and generosity. Step 2 As a family, read and discuss the Bible passages listed below and what they teach about God’s principles for giving. Proverbs 3:9-10, Proverbs 11:24-25, 2 Corinthians 9:6-12 Step 3 Compare God’s principles for giving with what the world seems to believe about money. Step 4 Decide, as a family, what will be given to Building the Future and write it down on your commitment card. Step 5 Close with prayer of commitment asking God to provide for your family as you step out in faith, asking Him to give you joy in giving and thanking Him for what He has done and for what He will continue to do.
crifice, not equal gifts.
COST BREAKDOWN WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST TO BUILD?
Total Building Cost ...........................................................................................................................$3,500,000 Architectural Fees (work donated by Jim Kilby)......................................................................................-300,000 Amount Needed to Build .......................................................................... $3,200,000 Sources of Funds For Building Cash on Hand (God’s Plans Our Hands) .................................................................................$350,000 Estimated Proceeds from Sale of Building.............................................................................$500,000 2013 Building the Future Commitment Offerings ..........................................................$350,000 Loan (Monthly Payment of $13,000) ...................................................................................................$2,000,000
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FATHER, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME GIVE SO AS A CHURCH WE CAN CONTINUE
BUILDING THE FUTURE
”
Three Year Commitment Plan 3 Families Pledging $2 5,000 = $75,000
B EGINNING IN 2013
5 Families Pledging $1 5,000 = $75,000 15 Families Pledging $1 0,000 = $150,000 3 0 Families Pledging $5 ,000 = $150,000 100 Families Pledging $2 ,500 = $250,000
Total = $700,000
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CA N WE AFFORD T H IS ?
We cannot afford not to. Of course, we are not in a position to afford to do this without the gifts of those who believe in the vision of Harvest Ridge Church as we reach out to our community. CA N WE EX PA ND OUR CURRE NT FAC I L I T Y ?
There is not currently a feasible way to accommodate enlarging our building and adding the necessary parking on the current acreage in keeping with God’s plan for our future. IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS OBJECTIVE?
No. We believe that God has called us at this time and this place to fulfill His purposes of reaching out to this local community and beyond. We are not just building a building. We are Building The Future. ARE WE BUILDING TOO S MALL ?
Our current sanctuary holds 240 people, so the new sanctuary will be almost double the size. We have to use our money in the most cost-effective way. We will continue to have two services. When the time comes, we will transition the youth into the sanctuary and build a larger sanctuary. HOW LONG WILL T H IS CAMPAI G N L AST ?
The full course of this campaign with our pledge giving is intended to last for three years. W H AT CAN I DO TO H E LP OUR C HU RC H B E BUI LT ?
Prayerfully consider what God would have you give monthly to Building The Future. Look at the chart on the Commitment Card to see how your giving will help us Build the Future.
This new facility will allow Harvest Ridge Church to continue to focus on our core values and to reach our community of North Ridgeville. It will allow us to: Provide opportunities for those searching, a welcoming and friendly environment in which they can connect to God, be saved, baptized and start a life filled with the Holy Spirit. We will be removing obstacles that are turning people away today. Provide a place for spiritual growth, where people can develop relationships with true friends that share and grow together. We have a great foundation, but we will be able to continue to build upon that foundation and grow. Provide an environment where children and youth can commit their lives fully to following God and the purpose He has for their life. An environment where they are safe, have the space to run and move and not be concerned about running into people. Providing opportunities for EVERY believer to use their time, talents, and treasures to positively impact our world. We have an opportunity to take the next step God has for us. This next step will allow Harvest Ridge Church to minister to more families, more children, more students and through our giving and service, the entire world. Our investment into this city and the people God has called us to reach will have an eternal impact. It is time to BUILD THE FUTURE.
JEREMIAH 32:38-41 They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.
Harvest Ridge Church
35600 Lorain Road, North Ridgeville, OH 44039 440.327.0024 www.harvestridge.net www.facebook.com/harvest.ridgechurch